News

Charleston County School District (CCSD) Associate Superintendent of School Support and Community Engagement Dr. Shavonna Coakley has been selected to serve in two community leadership roles that will strengthen collaboration between CCSD and key agencies serving children, families, and the broader community.  Dr. Coakley will participate in the Charleston County Coroner’s Office’s Child Death Review process and has also been selected as the Local Healthcare Community Representative for the Charleston County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) for the 2026–2028 term.

“Strong schools are strengthened by strong communities, and that means being willing to work alongside the partners who support our students and families beyond the classroom,” said CCSD Superintendent Anita Huggins. “Dr. Coakley brings a thoughtful and collaborative perspective to these important conversations, and I am grateful that she will represent CCSD in these roles. Her participation will help us deepen our partnerships, learn from our community, and identify opportunities to better support the whole child.” 

Coakley said these opportunities provide an important opportunity for the district to strengthen communication and collaboration with agencies that play a critical role in supporting children and families

“Bringing the education perspective to these conversations ensures that our schools have a voice when our community is working to address complex issues affecting our students and families,” explained Coakley.

Through the Child Death Review process, Dr. Coakley will bring an educational perspective to reviews involving school-aged children, helping community partners better understand each child’s educational experiences, available supports, family engagement, and other school-related factors that may provide important context. The review process is designed to identify gaps, missed opportunities, and potential prevention strategies through collaboration among community stakeholders.

As the Local Healthcare Community Representative on the CJCC, Dr. Coakley will bring the perspective of the education community to conversations surrounding local criminal justice and community well-being. The appointment provides another opportunity for CCSD to collaborate with healthcare, public safety, government, and community partners on issues that affect children, families, and the broader community.

“CCSD now has a seat at the table in two important community processes that are directly connected to issues affecting our students, including trauma, crime, safety, and overall well-being,” said Dr. Coakley. “Our schools are connected to so many of the systems that support our students, and I am honored to represent Charleston County School District in these conversations. I look forward to learning from our community partners, sharing our schools’ perspectives, and working together to identify meaningful opportunities to support our students and families.”